Casting machine



N. 'LESTER CASTNG MACHTNE Jan. 31, 1939.

1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 2,

Q INVENTOR.

fdfaf/ es fer 51% y: ATroRNEx/f/ N. LESTER CASTING MACHINE Jan. 31,1939.

Filed MaICh 2, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i? M f, QW ATTORNEY@ atenei ian.31, 1939 STATES PATENT ariane CSTHNG Md@ Application March 2, 11.936,Serial No. 66,551

lL Gl.

The present invention relates to a machine for casting molten metalunder pressure into a permanent mold or die cavity; and moreparticularly to a novel construction for that part of such a machine bymeans of which the molten metal is extracted from a reservoir or meltingpot and delivered to the mold. The general object and nature of theinvention is to provide a casting machine melting pot and a metalejecting mechanism associated therewith whereby there is produced aconstruction of practical and eiicient operation, and one in which thecomponent parts such as the melting pot and the metal ejecting cylindermay be conveniently assembled, removed or replaced.

Briefly outlined, the invention comprises a heating furnace, a meltingpot normally located therein and carried by means of a supporting framewhich is independent and separate from the furnace. The supporting framealso carries a hydraulic pressure operating mechanism which is connectedto av metal ejecting piston operable in a removable pressure castingcylinder in the interior of the melting pot. The melting pot isremovably mounted upon the supporting frame and the latter is movablymounted and connected to the casting machine proper by an adjustableconnection device whereby the position of the melting pot with respectto the casting machine may be adjustably located without disturbing thelocation or operation of appurtenant parts. Additional objects andadvantages shall become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention,then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claim.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detailcertain mechanism n embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which theprinciple of the inven tion may be used.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. l is a sectional elevational view of a con struction embodying theprinciple of the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan View of that part of Fig. 1taken from the line 2 2 thereof; Fig. 3 is a detail, sectional View ofthe melting pot and taken substantially along line 3 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the interior of themelting pot and particularly showing one of the inwardly projecting'lugstherein adapted to eifect removable engagement with the pressure castingcylinder.

Now referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown thereina portion of the casting machinetproper, consisting of the fixed dieplate l supported by the tie bars 2. The remainder of the castingmachine proper forms no part of the present invention, and hence is notshown or further described. A heating furnace 3 is located adjacent thedie plate l and supported upon the base li. The heating furnace 3 has arefractory, insulating lining 5 and also one or more tuyre openings, asshown at li, for the admission of a heating gas flame.

An annular supporting frame l is positioned above the heating furnace 3and supported at one end by the vertical bars t which are pivotallymounted at their lower end to the base d by means of the studs 9, and attheir upper ends to the frame l by means of the studs l0. The meltingpot il has an outwardly extending flange l2 adapted to seat in anannular shoulder it in the frame l. Embossed portions iii are located onthe under surface of the fiange l2 and serve as bearing faces contactingwith the horizontal face of the shoulder i3.

An S-shaped or goose-neck passage |15 leads from the bottom of themelting pot i l to a point adjacent the upper edge thereof. The mouth ofthe passage l5 contacts with a connector it which leads through the dieplate l to the die block (not shown). The connector i6 has semisphericalsurfaces i8 and lil at each end which are adapted to make contactconnections 'with complementary, concave surfaces such as shown at it atthe mouth of the passage l5.

A removable cylinder i@ is mounted in the interior of the melting potll. The lower end of the cylinder 20 ts over the inner end of thepassage l5 and makes a tight fit with the frustroconical portion 2l ofthe wall of the melting pot il. A pair of spaced projecting lugs 22extend laterally from the outer walls of the cylinder 20 and engage withthe inclined surfaces 23 on the under side of the spaced projections 2liextending from the inner wall of the melting pot ll. As best shown inFigs 2, 3 and 4, the projections 22 and 2t are in practical effectfragmentary thread portions by means of which the cylinder 2li may beinserted and removed from the melting pot l l. Engagement of the facesof the projections 22 with the surfaces 23, by means of the rotation ofthe cylinder 2li, is of a wedging or thread-like nature and serves tofirmly secure the cylinder 2li in position. A hexagonal portion E5 isprovided on the upper, outside wall of the cylinder 20' for thereception of a suitable manipulating tool or wrench.

Fluid or molten metal inlet ports 26 are provided in the wall of thecylinder 20, in the upper portion thereof. A lining insert 21 which ispreferably composed of a hot formed steel-vanadium alloy having anitrided surface, is press fitted into the interior of the cylinder 20and forms the inner wall thereof. The melting pot the cylinder 2U andthe remaining parts which come in contact with the molten metal arefabricated from a strong, heat resistant material such as Grade AMeanite or a nickel alloy steel. A series of axially parallel grooves 28are located on the inner wall of the cylinder 20 and extend from theinlet portion 26 to the upper end of the cylinder 20. The grooves 28 arefor the purpose of not only reducing the amount of the bearing surfacebetween the Walls of the cylinder 20 and the piston 34 which operatestherein, at a point where a liquid seal is not required, but also forthe purpose of providing clearance spaces for the insertion of apunch-out tool when it is desired to remove the lining insert 21 fromthe interior of the cylinder 20.

A hydraulic pressure cylinder 30 is carried by means of the frame 1 ofthe vertical supporting bars 3|. Embossed portions 29, whose upper facesare machine finished, are located on the frame 1 around the points ofattachment of the supporting bars 3|. The embossed portions 29 serve asmeans for reinforcing the frame 1.

A piston 32 is mounted in the cylinder 30 and its piston rod 33 isseparably connected to the metal ejecting piston 34 mounted in thecasting cylinder 20. The hydraulic piston rod 33 and the metal ejectingpiston 34 are separably connected by means of the T-heads 35 and 36respectively engaged by the split coupling 31. A cap member 38 formsone-half of the split coupling 31, and is removably secured thereto bymeans of suitable fasteners 39. A bracket 40 extends laterally from thecoupling 31 and carries a guide collar 4| lwhich slidably engages withone of the vertical supporting bars 3|.

Three centering plates are mounted in the slots 46 at equi-angulardistances around the annular supporting frame 1. Fastening studs 41extend through elongated slots in the plates 45 and hold the latter inposition. Adjusting bolts 48 threadably engage with the bosses 49 andtheir inner ends abut against the ends of the plates 45. As will be seenin Fig. 1, a downwardly extending lip 50 on the inner end of the plate45 bears against the outer edge of the ange 2 on the melting pot I.Thus, by adjustment of the bolts 48 and the centering plates 45, it ispossible to locate the position of the melting pot with respect to thesupporting frame 1 and to properly align the cylinder 20 and piston 34with the hydraulic pressure piston rod 33.

The melting pot is secured in position by means of the clamping plates56, bolted to the frame 1 with the studs 51, and contacting with theupper edge of the melting pot The supporting frame 1 is adjustablyconnected to the fixed die plate of the casting machine by means of arack and gear mechanism. This latter mechanism comprises a pair ofhousings on the supporting frame 1 in which the gears 6| are journalled.'Ihe gears 6| engage with the gear racks 60 carried by the die plate Theouter ends of the gear 6| are squared as at 63 for the reception of asuitable manipulating crank. 'I'he outer ends of the gear rack 62terminate in threaded portions 64 engaged by the nuts 65, whereby thesupporting frame 1 may be tightly drawn towards and held in positionagainst the die plate From the foregoing description, it will be readilyseen that in order to remove the casting cylinder 20 for the purpose ofinspection or substitution, it is merely necessary to unfasten thecoupling 31, and then unscrew the cylinder 20. In order to remove orsubstitute the melting pot the coupling 31 is unfastened, and the'centering plates 45 moved back slightly, whereupon the melting pot canbe lifted out of the assembly. In this manner, those parts of the metalcasting mechanism, which most frequently require insp'ection, removaland repair, can be very quickly and conveniently assembled anddisassembled without disturbing or dismantling the remainder of thecomponent elements.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanismherein disclosed, provided the means stated by the following claim orthe equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as myinvention:-

In a casting machine, the combination of a heating furnace positionedadjacent the fixed die plate of said machine, a horizontally movablesupporting frame independent of and positioned above said furnace, amelting pot carried by said frame, a rack and gear connection betweensaid frame and said die plate whereby said frame and said melting potare adjustably movable with respect to said die plate, a, metal ejectingcylinder separably mounted in said melting pot, a piston operable insaid cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder and piston carried by said frame,means for separably connecting said metal ejecting piston to saidhydraulic piston, and means for adjustably locating said melting potwith respect to said frame.

NATI-IAN LESTER.

